Marin County BOS to Consider Licensing for Medicinal Cannabis

New delivery-only retail ordinance goes before Supervisors November 14

San Rafael, CA – More than two months after the County of Marin introduced a revised draft ordinance for delivery-only medical cannabis licensing for public review, the time for a formal vote is approaching. First, the Marin County Board of Supervisors would need to approve the first reading of the ordinance at 1:30 p.m.October 31, setting up a public hearing and potential vote for 1:30 p.m.November 14.

The proposed licensing ordinance was published September 8 but then revised following a public workshop October 10. It would establish a regulatory framework and local delivery options for patients to safely access medicinal cannabis consistent with a state law approved in June. The ordinance would require a retailer to be closed to the public and dispense medicinal cannabis exclusively by delivery – a significant change from an ordinance approved in December 2015. Such retailers would have to be located at least 600 feet from schools, day-care centers, youth centers and playgrounds. Locations could be within industrial-zoned and office properties in addition to commercially zoned districts. More details about the changes are available in the staff report.

If approved, the new ordinance would replace the one adopted in 2015. Like the existing one, the new draft ordinance only affects medicinal cannabis regulations in the unincorporated areas of Marin; towns and cities create regulations in their own jurisdictions.